Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2008

I thank the noble Baroness for bringing this statutory instrument before us. We have no serious quarrels with it, and we welcome it. I note her comment to me about tax-raising instruments. I totally accept that this is not a tax-raising power. We have had discussions about that on other occasions in this Room. I have a few questions and a simple request. The Minister mentioned a package of regulations and powers, but it is really more than that. The complexity of legislation in Wales coming from Westminster needs some serious government attention. I ask the Minister to pass that on. I refer noble Lords to Hansard in the other place, on Tuesday 5 February in col. 8, where my honourable friend Cheryl Gillan laid out that complexity very clearly. That is well worth reading for those who are going to have a go at simplifying how regulations are interpreted for Wales, because about 10 different bits of procedure have to be gone through in four Houses—here, the other place, Europe and the Assembly—just for some parking regulations. That cannot be sensible for something so simple. Only six local authorities have decriminalised out, I think, of 22—I cannot remember how many there are. As I understand this, local authorities that have not decriminalised cannot benefit from this legislation and those things that flow from it. Passing legislation that will be used by only some very small percentage of Wales is not a good idea. Do Her Majesty’s Government and the Minister have any idea how they will either persuade or help Welsh local authorities to decriminalise? I do not know whether it is funding or the amount of administration that is required or what is needed to help, but that needs to be done as swiftly as possible. In relation to cross-border happenings and now that this legislation is in place throughout the kingdom, including Scotland and Northern Ireland, will there now be a level playing field? Can motorists expect the same treatment all over the United Kingdom for parking offences and in particular for appeals against parking offences? There are offences that arise and people will be charged and fined, and so on. It would be nice to know about that, and this is a wonderful opportunity. I think that I understood the Minister to say that that is the case, but I should like confirmation that as a result of the legislation we will now have a fair, even and level playing field for parking management, fines and appeals against those fines. If that is the case, it is very much to be welcomed.